Tuesday 12 December 2006 at 2.30pm

*Oral questions, 30 minutes

*Viscount Falkland to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they accept Commissioner Verheugen’s estimate that European Union regulation is costing €600 billion per annum to European Union member states’ economies.

*Lord Naseby to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether all the emergency services in London now have a radio system that operates below and above ground.

*Lord Geddes to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they seek to encourage loyalty and dedication in the workplace; and, if so, whether they consider that the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 promote that objective.

†*Baroness Seccombe to ask Her Majesty’s Government which recommendations of the report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour, published on 7 December, they intend to implement.

Concessionary Bus Travel Bill [HL] Second Reading [Lord Davies of Oldham]

If the bill is read a second time, Lord Davies of Oldham to move that the bill be committed to a Grand Committee.

Baroness Greengross to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the indirect social costs of clinical decisions are being met by Government departments other than the Department of Health.

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Future Business

Wednesday 13 December at 3.00pm
Prayers will have been read

*Baroness Miller of Hendon to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Ministers giving evidence to committees of enquiry of foreign legislatures are bound by the Official Secrets Act 1989 and rules about the confidentiality of Cabinet discussions.

*Lord Sheldon to ask Her Majesty’s Government what arrangements they are making to allow special advisers to give evidence to select committees.

*Lord Lee of Trafford to ask Her Majesty’s Government what options they are considering in relation to the siting of regional or “super” casinos.

†*Lord Clement-Jones to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the extent to which the recommendations of the Gowers review into intellectual property are in the long-term interests of the United Kingdom’s creative industries.

Further Education and Training Bill [HL] Second Reading [Lord Adonis]

If the bill is read a second time, Lord Adonis to move that the bill be committed to a Grand Committee.

Lord Renton of Mount Harry to move that this House takes note of the report of the European Union Committee on Managing Nuclear Safety and Waste: the role of the EU. (37th Report, HL Paper 211, Session 2005-06)

Grand Committee in the Moses Room at 3.45pm

Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill [HL] [Baroness Ashton of Upholland] 2nd Report from the Delegated Powers Committee

Thursday 14 December at 11.00am

*Lord Janner to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many cyclists were killed and how many injured in the United Kingdom in hours of darkness during each of the last three years for which records are available.

*Baroness Neuberger to ask Her Majesty’s Government why National Health Service trusts can recover VAT paid to employment agencies for nurses but not for other health professionals.

*Lord Teverson to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for the future of regional assemblies in England, outside London.

Lord Fowler to call attention to the Government’s policy on HIV/AIDS and sexual health; and to move for papers. (Balloted debate, 2½ hours)

Lord Hylton to call attention to the human consequences of current immigration and asylum law and practice and to possible improvements in the systems of assessment, care and support; and to move for papers. (Balloted debate, 2½ hours)

Petroleum Act 1998 (Third Party Access) Order 2007 Lord Truscott to move that the draft Order laid before the House on 20 November be approved. 2nd Report from the Statutory Instruments Committee

Science and Technology Facilities Council Order 2007 Lord Truscott to move that the draft Order laid before the House on 20 November be approved. 2nd Report from the Statutory Instruments Committee

Technology Strategy Board Order 2007 Lord Truscott to move that the draft Order laid before the House on 23 November be approved. 2nd Report from the Statutory Instruments Committee

It is expected that the above two motions will be debated together.

Employment Act 2002 (Amendment of Schedules 3, 4 and 5) Order 2006 Lord Truscott to move that the draft Order laid before the House on 23 November be approved. 2nd Report from the Statutory Instruments Committee

It is expected that the Grand Committee on the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill will continue at 2.00pm in the Moses Room.

Friday 15 December at 11.00am

Cluster Munitions (Prohibition) Bill [HL] Second Reading [Lord Dubs]

European Union (Information, etc.) Bill [HL] Second Reading [Lord Dykes]

Disabled Persons (Independent Living) Bill [HL] Second Reading [Lord Ashley of Stoke]

Monday 18 December at 2.30pm

*Lord Clement-Jones to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the current estimate of the costs of the building programme for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

*Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many outstanding single farm payments are still to be made for 2005; and what proportion are for full or part payment.

*Baroness Byford to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to protect fish stocks around United Kingdom shores.

*Lord Bishop of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the ecological principles behind the Building Schools for the Future Programme.

†Investment Exchanges and Clearing Houses Bill Committee [Lord McKenzie of Luton]

Lord McKenzie of Luton to move that this House takes note with approval of the Government’s assessment as set out in the Pre-Budget Report 2006 for the purposes of section 5 of the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993.

Grand Committee in the Moses Room at 3.30pm

Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill [HL] [Lord Truscott] 2nd Report from the Delegated Powers Committee

Tuesday 19 December at 11.00am

*Earl of Sandwich to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the current prospects for peace and multi-party democracy in Nepal.

*Lord Renton of Mount Harry to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will introduce a review of the standards set by the Health and Safety Executive in view of its assessment of the risks posed by trees on National Trust land.

*Baroness Wilkins to ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will publish their response to the report, Reviewing the disabled facilities grant programme, published in October 2005.

Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Bill Second Reading [Baroness Scotland of Asthal]

If the bill is read a second time, Baroness Scotland of Asthal to move that the bill be committed to a Grand Committee.

Monday 8 January at 2.30pm

†*Lord Trimble to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are under an obligation by European law or European directives to grant European Union nationals access to posts in the United Kingdom Civil Service; and whether they have any plans to do so.

†*Lord Astor of Hever to ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made in improving the air bridge for transporting troops to Iraq and Afghanistan.

†*Baroness Gardner of Parkes to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the recovery of scrap aluminium sent from the United Kingdom to areas outside the European Union for recycling is carried out in an environmentally sound manner and to the standard required for recycling industries operating within the United Kingdom under the European Union integrated pollution prevention and control regulations.

†*Lord Blaker to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they expect the European Union targeted measures against Zimbabwe to be removed when they expire in February 2007.

Tuesday 9 January at 2.30pm

†*Lord Jenkin of Roding to ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have held during 2006 with the International Atomic Energy Authority concerning the proposal for a new international nuclear fuel bank.

†*Lord Campbell-Savours to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will name the accuser in the Leslie Warren rape case and false accusers where cases of persons convicted of rape have been referred by the Criminal Cases Review Commission to the Court of Appeal as unsafe due to false allegations.

†*Lord Faulkner of Worcester to ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Gambling Commission about requiring betting organisations to conclude information-sharing agreements with sports governing bodies as a licence condition for accepting bets on those sports.

Wednesday 10 January at 3.00pm

†*Lord De Mauley to ask Her Majesty’s Government how much rubbish collected in the United Kingdom for recycling is recycled.

†*Lord Harrison to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether in the light of their work-life balance policies they will support the British Cleaning Council’s campaign to promote a return to daytime office cleaning.

†*Lord Barnett to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the impact of current green taxes on climate change.

Thursday 11 January at 11.00am

†*Baroness Turner of Camden to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will review the effectiveness of lay involvement in the governance of trust-based and contract-based workplace pension schemes.

†*Lord Dykes to ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will next meet members of the government of Germany to discuss the German European Union Presidency and their principal matters of interest.

†*Lord Roberts of Llandudno to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will take steps to ensure that the United Kingdom is the world leader in tackling the problems caused by online and other gambling.

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Motions for Balloted Debate

Ballot on 12 December for debate on 18 January. Time limit 2½ hours

Lord Chidgey to call attention to the present franchising system for the railway industry; and to move for papers.

Earl of Listowel to call attention to issues relating to the social care workforce; and to move for papers.

Baroness Warwick of Undercliffe to call attention to the economic impact of higher education institutions; and to move for papers.

†Lord Tombs to call attention to issues facing the electricity supply industry and to the case for a strategic decision mechanism; and to move for papers.

Lord Dykes to call attention to the present financial situation of the Channel Tunnel; and to move for papers.

Lord Norton of Louth to call attention to the case for changing the form in which legislation is presented to Parliament; and to move for papers.

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Other Motions for Debate

Lord Dykes to call attention to the economic and social conditions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank; and to move for papers.

Viscount Montgomery of Alamein to call attention to developments in Latin America; and to move for papers.

Lord Northbourne to call attention to the rights of the child and to the role of stability and family life in the well being of children; and to move for papers.

Baroness Stern to move that this House takes note of the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism, Cm. 6907, presented to Parliament on 24 July; and requests that Her Majesty’s Government do not ratify it until the Joint Committee on Human Rights has reported on its implications.

†Baroness Masham of Ilton to call attention to the role that specialist nurses play in the treatment and support of patients with long-term conditions; and to move for papers.

†Lord Alton of Liverpool to call attention to the situation in Darfur; and to move for papers.

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Motions relating to Statutory Instruments

Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 Lord Morrow to move that a Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty praying that the Regulations, laid before the House on 24 November, be annulled. 3rd Report from the Merits Committee

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Questions for Short Debate

Time limit 1 hour or 1½ hours

Baroness Cox to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to efforts to eradicate contemporary slavery.

Lord Pearson of Rannoch to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they agree with the First Report from the Committee for Privileges, Code of Conduct and Members’ Interests, (Session 2003-04, HL Paper 69) in particular its recommendation that Members of the House in receipt of pensions from the European Union do not normally need to declare such pensions as a financial interest when taking part in debates on European Union matters; and, if so, why.

Lord Pearson of Rannoch to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they propose to honour their commitment that family carers of people with lifelong severe intellectual impairment should be at the heart of decision-making about their relatives’ accommodation, health care and support.

Lord Pearson of Rannoch to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will make representations to the government of Botswana about its treatment of the bushmen of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

Earl of Sandwich to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance they are providing to meet relief and development needs in the Palestinian Occupied Territories.

Lord Blaker to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the current state of relations between the government of Israel and the various Palestinian political organisations.

Baroness Stern to ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they will take in response to the report by the Youth Justice Board, published on 2 November, on research into Anti-social Behaviour Orders given to young people between January 2004 and January 2005.

Viscount Montgomery of Alamein to ask Her Majesty’s Government what benefits are expected from the International Polar Year 2007-08 following the British hosting of the Antarctic Treaty consultative meeting in Edinburgh in June.

Baroness Jay of Paddington to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they assess the effectiveness of palliative care services; and on what basis decisions to fund additional services are taken.

Lord Alderdice to ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made in the statutory regulation of the professions of psychology, psychotherapy and counselling in the past six years.

Lord Alderdice to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they would support moves towards developing an inclusive semi-permanent conference table to address the problems of the Middle East.

Lord Harries of Pentregarth to ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to further the independence of West Papua.

Lord Holme of Cheltenham to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the level of Chinese investment in Africa.

Baroness Northover to ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to combat AIDS across the world and its effect on children.

Lord Carlile of Berriew to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether physical restraints, including seclusion and strip searching, are used on children in custody.

Lord Carlile of Berriew to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the future of British architecture.

Lord Lester of Herne Hill to ask Her Majesty’s Government why civil justice costs must be recovered in their entirety from those who become suitors before the court.

Lord Bradshaw to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they propose to address the present problems facing the bus industry.

Baroness Scott of Needham Market to ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made on their capital building programme.

Baroness Neuberger to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to prevent malnutrition in hospitals, as highlighted in the Age Concern report, Hungry to be Heard.

Baroness Neuberger to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the British Medical Association’s report, Child and adolescent mental health—a guide for healthcare professionals, published in June 2006.

Baroness Sharp of Guildford to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether current or proposed methods of allocating research funds amongst universities are sufficient to support basic research infrastructures or to promote innovative and applied research.

Lord Hanningfield to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to alleviate the financial pressures facing local authorities in relation to adult social care and to minimise the impact that this has on the delivery of other services.

Lord Turnberg to ask Her Majesty’s Government what advice they will seek in formulating their response to the Chief Medical Officer’s report, Good Doctors, Safer Patients.

Baroness Tonge to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to increase provision of contraceptive services, prevent the closure of specialist community clinics and increase the availability of training in contraceptive services and sexual health.

Lord Dubs to ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they are taking to help provide homes for homeless and overcrowded families.

Baroness Massey of Darwen to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to develop the education of young people in custody.

Lord Burnett to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for the future of inheritance tax.

Lord Jenkin of Roding to ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will announce their decision on the provision of Alternatively Secured Pensions.

Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking, along with international partners, to secure peace in Darfur.

Lord Taverne to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will withdraw financial support which encourages farmers to convert to organic farming.

Viscount Montgomery of Alamein to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the development of the Central American Integration System.

Lord Woolmer of Leeds to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the contribution of the Yorkshire and Humber region to the United Kingdom economy.

Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the role and contribution of the creative industries to the economy and well being of the United Kingdom.

Lord Greaves to ask Her Majesty’s Government what provision they will make for the teaching of English for speakers of other languages in England in the next academic year.

Lord Harrison to ask Her Majesty’s Government how they are supporting Liverpool in preparing for its role as European Capital of Culture 2008.

Baroness Byford to ask Her Majesty’s Government what they are doing to sustain and improve services to the public in rural areas.

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Questions for Written Answer

Tabled on 11 December and due for answer on 27 December.

Lord Stoddart of Swindon to ask Her Majesty’s Government by what means and when since 1997 they have made or received estimates of likely shortfalls in the number of skilled or otherwise qualified personnel to fulfil the needs of science-related industries; and what steps they are taking to review and plan for any current or future deficit. HL711

Lord Judd to ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures are in place to ensure that personnel in appropriate Government departments and public services, including schools, health centres, hospitals, the police, courts, job centres, post offices and libraries, are briefed on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the United Nations’ reporting process, recommendations to the United Kingdom by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Government’s response to those recommendations. HL712

Lord Pearson of Rannoch to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Filkin on 21 February 2005 (WA 173), whether the answer remains valid; and whether they adhere to the view that the scientific theory of intelligent design could be discussed in schools, being one of a range of views on evolution that students might consider or evaluate against the evidence. HL713

Lord Faulkner of Worcester to ask Her Majesty’s Government under what conditions they would allow the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield to reopen. HL 714

Lord Faulkner of Worcester to ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the cost of the accident at the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield in April 2005. HL715

Lord Faulkner of Worcester to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consult the government of Norway about the proposed reopening of the thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield. HL716

Lord Faulkner of Worcester to ask Her Majesty’s Government which routes on the United Kingdom’s national railways are of a sufficient gauge to permit the running of double-deck passenger trains. HL717

Lord Skelmersdale to ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of the participants in the access to work pilot schemes were not self-referred. HL718

Lord Skelmersdale to ask Her Majesty’s Government, in each of the last five years, how many claimants of incapacity benefit and severe disability allowance ceased to claim, by age decile. HL719

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether road blocks or warning signs qualify as obstacles for the protection of a site for the purposes of defining an outer perimeter for sites designated or protected under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005. HL720

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it is an offence to trespass on sites designated under sections 128 to 138 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005. HL721

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer to ask Her Majesty’s Government, if the ban on import of wild birds is lifted, how a veterinary officer supervising quarantine facilities would be updated about mortality in a consignment; and how often these updates would take place. HL722

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 27 November (WA 24), how they will ascertain where the welfare of birds is compromised without identifying a threshold for acceptable rates of mortality. HL723

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 27 November (WA24), whether a resumption of trade in wild birds without significant changes from the old regime is consistent with the other provision of the duty of care of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 that an animal’s needs include its need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease. HL724

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether an average mortality rate of seven per cent in quarantine is consistent with good standards of animal welfare. HL725

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Andrews on 6 December (WA 146), whether similar penalties apply in Northern Ireland in respect of the unlawful destruction of trees; and, if the penalties are not the same, what are the differences. HL726

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Andrews on 6 December (WA 147-8), whether conditions identical to those in England apply in Northern Ireland in respect of planning applications subsequent to, or affected by, the unlawful destruction of trees; and, if the conditions are not the same, what are the differences. HL727

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Triesman on 4 December (WA 92-3), what are the legal obstacles to direct flights to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus that cannot be overcome without the cooperation of the Greek Cypriot administration in the south of the island; what is the legal authority for this opinion; and whether the human rights of Turkish Cypriots have been considered. HL728

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Triesman on 4 December (WA 92-3), whether there are any embargoes between other nations or traditions in the European Union comparable to that of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Greek Cypriot Administration on direct flights to the former. HL729

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 9 October (WA 106), whether any system is in place to monitor the welfare of, or to protect, young people who are subject to community restorative justice in Northern Ireland; and whether this puts community restorative justice schemes in the category of summary justice. HL730

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to Lord Warner’s response to the debate on autism on 20 July (HL Deb, col 1459) in which he undertook to draw points to the attention of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the Secretary of State is expected to respond to those points. HL731

Lord Carlile of Berriew to ask Her Majesty’s Government on how many occasions physical restraint occurred at Hindley Young Offenders Institution in relation to, respectively, male and female black and ethnic minority clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November. HL732

Lord Carlile of Berriew to ask Her Majesty’s Government on how many occasions physical restraint occurred at Huntercombe Young Offenders Institution in relation to, respectively, male and female black and ethnic minority clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November. HL733

Lord Carlile of Berriew to ask Her Majesty’s Government on how many occasions physical restraint occurred at Lancaster Farms Young Offenders Institution in relation to, respectively, male and female black and ethnic minority clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November. HL734

Lord Carlile of Berriew to ask Her Majesty’s Government on how many occasions physical restraint occurred at Stoke Heath Young Offenders Institution in relation to, respectively, male and female black and ethnic minority clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November. HL735

Lord Carlile of Berriew to ask Her Majesty’s Government on how many occasions physical restraint occurred at Thorn Cross Young Offenders Institution in relation to, respectively, male and female black and ethnic minority clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November. HL736

Lord Carlile of Berriew to ask Her Majesty’s Government on how many occasions physical restraint occurred at Warren Hill Young Offenders Institution in relation to, respectively, male and female black and ethnic minority clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November. HL737

Lord Selsdon to ask the Chairman of Committees whether there is still in operation a House of Lords complaints book. HL738

Lord Selsdon to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the average time it now takes for citizens to—

(a) see their general practitioner (GP);

(b) see a consultant, upon referral by the GP, by way of the “choose and book” system;

(c) obtain an appointment for a diagnostic procedure, for example, an MRI scan, a CT scan or a blood test, upon referral by a consultant;

(d) obtain a follow-up appointment with the consultant to discuss the results of the diagnostic procedure; and

(e) enter hospital for the appropriate surgery or treatment. HL739

Lord Varley to ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures have been put in place since they accepted the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s recommendation to speed up the winding up of occupational pensions schemes; and which schemes have been in the wind up process for (a) one year; (b) two years; (c) three years; and (d) four years or more. HL740

Lord Varley to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the number of occupational pension schemes in wind up which—

(a) have applied for assistance under the Financial Assistance Scheme;

(b) are currently under assessment by the Pension Protection Fund. HL741

Lord Astor of Hever to ask Her Majesty’s Government what impact current deployments in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan have had on (a) air crew training, and (b) air fleet availability in other theatres of operation. HL742

Lord Astor of Hever to ask Her Majesty’s Government how United Kingdom military forces deployed in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan are structured. HL743

Lord Astor of Hever to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many medical and logistics troops are deployed in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan. HL744

Lord Astor of Hever to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many of the reserve forces deployed to the Helmand Province of Afghanistan are volunteer reserves; and how many are regular reserves. HL745

Lord Astor of Hever to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many United Kingdom military units deployed to the Helmand Province of Afghanistan are composite. HL746

Lord Astor of Hever to ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been done to give effect to each of the 12 recommendations made by the Board of Inquiry into the deaths of six members of the Royal Military Police at Al Majarr al Kabir on 24 June 2003. HL747

Baroness Gould of Potternewton to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have acknowledged the contribution that specialist nurses make to the treatment and care of people with epilepsy; and whether they will take steps to reverse the trend of redundancies and reduced hours for specialist epilepsy nurses who work in the National Health Service. HL748

Baroness Gould of Potternewton to ask Her Majesty’s Government what encouragement they are giving to local health trusts to reverse the trend of redundancies and reduced hours for specialist epilepsy nurses who work in the National Health Service, bearing in mind that 70 per cent of those with epilepsy could be seizure free with optimal treatment. HL749

Lord Morris of Manchester to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many NHS patients identified by the National Blood Service as having received blood from a donor who later developed vCJD were people with haemophilia. HL 750

Lord Morris of Manchester to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the findings of Professor John Collinge in the December 2006 edition of The Lancet on the transmission by infected blood of variant CJD; and what action they are planning to take. HL751

Lord Morris of Manchester to ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations the Department of Health’s Voluntary and Community Sector Partnership Team have received from the Chair of the National Information Forum on section 64 core funding; and whether the Partnership Team is now in consultation with the Forum about the misunderstanding implicit in their statement that its application appeared “not to be cross-cutting and focused on a specific client group”. HL752

Lord Morris of Manchester to ask Her Majesty’s Government why Wing Commander Dr Derek Hall was informed, in three recent communications from the Veterans Agency and Ministry of Defence, that Gulf War Syndrome does not exist; and whether any corrective action has now been taken. HL753

Lord Morris of Manchester to ask Her Majesty’s Government when, by what process and with what outcome the marmoset study carried out for the Ministry of Defence by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down into possible vaccine interactions, reported on in the Written Statement by Lord Drayson on 19 October (WS 87), was peer reviewed. HL754

Lord Morris of Manchester to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether at any time the Medical Research Council (MRC) directly consulted the Gulf War Veterans and Families Association about its work in regard to Gulf War illnesses; and whether at any stage the Association was kept directly informed of the MRC’s findings. HL755

Lord Patten to ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Turkey concerning the law passed by the Turkish Parliament on 9 November that would have made it easier for non-Muslim religious bodies to reclaim property confiscated by the state, including orphanages, schools, hospitals and churches, which was blocked by the Turkish President. HL756

Lord Roberts of Llandudno to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the present timetable for introducing the 69 new passport interview offices. HL757

Lord Roberts of Llandudno to ask Her Majesty’s Government how iris scans and fingerprints for the new passport interview regime will be obtained by the video links for remote areas. HL758

Lord Roberts of Llandudno to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to initiate discussion on the merger of police forces in the United Kingdom. HL759

Lord Roberts of Llandudno to ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the cost for each of the police authorities in preparing the proposals and responses to the recent unsuccessful police merger plans. HL760

Lord Roberts of Llandudno to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the average income for all persons in employment in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. HL761

Lord Roberts of Llandudno to ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the average expenditure per pupil in age groups 4 to 7, 8 to 11, 12 to 16, and 16 plus in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. HL762

Lord Avebury to ask Her Majesty’s Government what information they have received from the Finnish Presidency about the reaction of the government of Indonesia to their representations concerning the investigation of the murder of the human rights activist Munir Said Thalib on a Garuda flight from Jakarta to the Netherlands on 7 September 2004; and whether they have any information about the approach by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary, executions to the government of Indonesia about that murder. HL763

Lord Avebury to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether a person is entitled to be registered as a British citizen if, immediately prior to 1 January 1983, that person was a statutory British Protected Person by virtue of the British Protectorates, Protected States and Protected Persons Order 1978 in the following circumstances—

(a) the person was born in the British Protectorate of Uganda after 1914;

(b) prior to the independence of Uganda on 9 October 1962 the person had ceased to reside in Uganda;

(c) none of the person’s parents or grandparents is or was a member of any of the indigenous communities existing and residing within the borders of Uganda as at the first day of February, 1926, as set out in the Third Schedule to the Constitution of Uganda;

(d) the person had never registered as a citizen of Uganda; and

(e) the person has not acquired the citizenship of any other country. HL764

Lord Avebury to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will place in the Library of the House the email from Tameem Abdulhusein Ebrahim to the British Consul-General in Hong Kong dated 1 December, regarding solely British nationals of Nepalese origin, together with the British Consul-General’s response. HL765

Lord Avebury to ask Her Majesty’s Government what matters were discussed last week by the British Vice-Consul and the Nepalese Consul during their meeting in Hong Kong; and whether they will place in the Library of the House the Vice-Consul’s account of the discussion. HL766

Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making concerning the conviction and sentence of Chen Guang Cheng following the campaign he waged in Shandong Province against the coercive birth control policy. HL767

Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty’s Government what endowments and investments are held by the Parliamentary Pension Fund or by the Government in companies with commercial interests in Sudan; how large are these endowments; who controls them; and whether they have plans to disinvest until the end of hostilities in Darfur. HL768

Lord Campbell-Savours to ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 6 December (WA 142), in what circumstances the DNA of a victim would need to be taken for elimination purposes. HL769

Lord Campbell-Savours to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to review the requirement for a victim of rape to give written consent for the retention of their DNA on the national DNA database. HL770

Lord Campbell-Savours to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether a person who has been identified as a false accuser of rape and who has not been prosecuted retains the right to give written consent for their DNA to be held on the national DNA database. HL771

Baroness Tonge to ask Her Majesty’s Government what visa regulations exist for Israelis entering the United Kingdom. HL772

Baroness Tonge to ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the part played by British armaments sold to Israel in the military strikes on northern Gaza. HL773

Baroness Tonge to ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have held with the government of Israel concerning the release of elected members of the government of Palestine currently held in prison. HL774

Baroness Tonge to ask Her Majesty’s Government what recent discussions they have held with the government of Israel concerning Israel’s nuclear capability. HL775

Lord Laird to ask Her Majesty’s Government on whose authority the Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland expressed critical remarks to the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Consumer Council concerning the Council’s call for water charges legislation to be left to the Assembly. HL776

Lord Laird to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the public office of the Ordnance Survey Agency in Belfast was closed on the afternoon of Friday 8 December; if so, why; and what notice was given to potential users. HL777

Lord Laird to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the South Eastern Library Board in Northern Ireland adopted a statement of Special Educational Needs originally prepared by a local education authority in England or Wales; if so, when it was adopted; and what is that statement. HL778

Lord Laird to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Education and Library Boards in Northern Ireland are entitled to adopt statements assessed by local education authorities in England and Wales. HL779

Lord Laird to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, as part of the Review of public administrations in Northern Ireland they propose to make special severance payments to the chief executives or chief administrators of hospital trusts, district councils, education services, the Catholic Council for Maintained Schools, the Voluntary Grammar Schools Associations, the integrated schools and the Irish Medium Schools. HL780

Lord Marlesford to ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the cost to public funds in each of the last five years of British military operations in (a) Iraq, and (b) Afghanistan; and what financial provision has been made for this in 2006-07 and 2007-08. HL781

Lord Marlesford to ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the cost to public funds in each of the last five years of reconstruction and development in (a) Iraq, and (b) Afghanistan; and what financial provision has been made for this in 2006-07 and 2007-08. HL782

Lord Marlesford to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the cost of NATO operations is paid by the countries providing the military contribution to the operation concerned, or whether it is paid by all members of NATO in proportion to their gross domestic product. HL783

Lord Marlesford to ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the final cost of the British military contribution to the 1990-91 Gulf War; and how much of this was repaid to the British Exchequer by states in the Middle East. HL784

Baroness Uddin to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to develop the micro-credit lending programme, pioneered by Professor Mohammed Yunus and the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, to alleviate poverty, particularly amongst women, in the work they are doing in other developing countries. HL785

Baroness Uddin to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to introduce micro-credit programmes to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises for women in the United Kingdom. HL786

Baroness Uddin to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made an assessment of the lessons which can be learned from experience in Bangladesh concerning the participation of women from ethnic minorities in public and civic life. HL787

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Questions unanswered after 14 days

The questions asked on the dates shown in bold were due for answer by the dates in brackets The Government department responsible for answering each Question is shown in square brackets.

15 November (29 November)

HL25 Lord Morris of Manchester [MoD]

HL26 Lord Morris of Manchester [DWP]

HL36 Lord Pearson of Rannoch [DoH]

HL57 Lord Laird [NIO]

HL71 Lord Powell of Bayswater [DoH]

16 November (30 November)

HL123 Baroness Wilkins [DoH]

HL142 Lord Laird [NIO]

HL146 Lord Laird [NIO]

20 November (4 December)

HL163 Lord Maginnis of Drumglass [NIO]

HL165 Lord Maginnis of Drumglass [HO]

HL167 Lord Turnberg [DoH]

HL173 Lord Morris of Manchester [DoH]

HL179 Lord Fowler [DoH]

HL184 Lord Ramsbotham [HO]

HL185 Lord Ramsbotham [HO]

HL186 Lord Ramsbotham [HO]

HL187 Lord Ramsbotham [HO]

HL188 Lord Ramsbotham [HO]

HL189 Lord Tyler [DoH]

HL190 Baroness Verma [DoH]

21 November (5 December)

HL231 Lord Avebury [HO]

HL232 Lord Avebury [HO]

HL233 Lord Avebury [HO]

HL234 Lord Avebury [HO]

HL235 Lord Avebury [HO]

HL236 Lord Avebury [HO]

HL243 Lord Tebbit [HO]

HL249 Lord Maginnis of Drumglass [NIO]

HL250 Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall [DTI]

HL256 Baroness Harris of Richmond [HO]

HL258 Baroness Harris of Richmond [HO]

22 November (6 December)

HL277 Lord Hylton [FCO]

23 November (7 December)

HL325 Lord Walton of Detchant [DoH]

HL326 Lord Walton of Detchant [DoH]

HL329 Lord Walton of Detchant [DoH]

HL333 Countess of Mar [MoD]

HL340 Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer [DEFRA]

HL361 Lord De Mauley [MoD]

HL362 Lord De Mauley [MoD]

HL363 Lord Dykes [MoD]

27 November (11 December)

HL373 Lord Hylton [DoH]

HL374 Lord Hylton [DoH]

HL379 Lord Garden [MoD]

HL380 Lord Garden [MoD]

HL381 Lord Garden [MoD]

HL382 Lord Garden [MoD]

HL383 Lord Garden [MoD]

HL388 Lord Clement-Jones [FCO]

HL392 Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer [CoC]

HL398 Lord Morris of Manchester [MoD]

HL400 Lord Morris of Manchester [MoD]

HL404 Lord Laird [NIO]

HL405 Lord Laird [NIO]

HL406 Lord Laird [NIO]

HL407 Lord Laird [NIO]

HL408 Lord Laird [NIO]

HL409 Lord Laird [NIO]

Number of questions allocated to each department which are unanswered after 14 days.

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Bills in Progress

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Affirmative Instruments in Progress

The Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee has drawn attention to certain instruments in the reports indicated

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Negative Instruments

Instruments reported by the Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee

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Regulatory Reform Orders in Progress

The Regulatory Reform Committee has reported on Orders in the reports indicated

Examination of Petitions for Private Bills

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Committees

Unless otherwise indicated, Committees meet in the Lords’ rooms in the Committee Corridor as indicated in the daily broadsheet

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Minutes of Proceedings of Monday 11 December 2006

The House met at 2.30pm
Prayers were read by the Lord Bishop of Salisbury

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Select Committee Report

1   Procedure of the House    
The following Report from the Select Committee was made and ordered to be printed:

First Report. (HL Paper 15)

Public Business

2   DNA database A question was asked by Lord Dholakia and answered by Baroness Scotland of Asthal.

3   European Union: European Security and Defence Policy A question was asked by Lord Wallace of Saltaire and answered by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon.

4   Bow Street Magistrates’ Court A question was asked by Baroness Trumpington and answered by Lord Falconer of Thoroton.

5   Energy efficiency A question was asked by Lord Ezra and answered by Lord Rooker.

6   Government Spending (Website) Bill [HL] Baroness Noakes presented a bill to make provision for a website in order to enable public access to information about government expenditure; and for connected purposes. It was read a first time and ordered to be printed. (HL Bill 20)

7   Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill [HL] Lord Truscott moved that it be an instruction to the Grand Committee to which the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill [HL] has been committed that they consider the bill in the following order:

The motion was agreed to.

8   Personal Injuries (NHS Charges) (Amounts) Regulations 2006 Baroness Royall of Blaisdon moved that the draft Regulations laid before the House on 15 November be approved. The motion was agreed to.

9   Compensation (Claims Management Services) Regulations 2006

10   Compensation (Specification of Benefits) Order 2006

11   Compensation (Regulated Claims Management Services) Order 2006

12   Association of Law Costs Draftsmen Order 2006

Lord Evans of Temple Guiting moved that the draft instruments laid before the House on 19 October and 16 November be approved en bloc. The motion was agreed to.

13   Legal Services Bill [HL] Lord Falconer of Thoroton moved that it be an instruction to the Committee of the Whole House to which the Legal Services Bill [HL] has been committed that they consider the bill in the following order:

The motion was agreed to.

14   Housing (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 Lord Rooker moved that the draft Order laid before the House on 20 November be approved. After debate, the motion was agreed to.

15   Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 Lord Rooker moved that the draft Order laid before the House on 9 October be approved. Then Lord Trimble moved, as an amendment, to leave out all the words after “that” and insert “this House, having regard to the declaration of the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland that the draft Order has not been subject to full consultation, and the repeated request of the Committee on the Programme for Government of the Northern Ireland Assembly that the legislation should be deferred, declines to approve the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006”. After debate, the motion was disagreed to (see division list). Then the original motion was agreed to.

16   Extradition Act 2003 (Amendment to Designations) Order 2006 Baroness Scotland of Asthal moved that the draft Order laid before the House on 7 November be approved. After debate, the motion was agreed to.

17   Investment Exchanges and Clearing Houses Bill Lord McKenzie of Luton moved that the bill be now read a second time. After debate, the motion was agreed to and the bill was committed to a Committee of the Whole House.

18   Kosovo A question was asked by Lord Anderson of Swansea and, after debate, answered by Lord Triesman.

The House adjourned at 7.45pm until Tuesday 12 December at 2.30pm.

Paul Hayter

Clerk of the Parliaments

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Papers

All statutory instruments laid before the House are accompanied by an Explanatory Memorandum presented by command of Her Majesty, unless otherwise indicated.

Command Papers

The following papers, having been presented to the House by command of Her Majesty on the dates shown, were ordered to lie on the Table:

1   Departmental Performance—

   (1)   Autumn Performance Report for 2006 of the Department of Health. (11th December)   (6985)

   (2)   Autumn Performance Report for 2006 of the Home Office. (8th December)   (6995)

2   Extradition—Exchange of Notes between the United Kingdom and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo concerning the Transfer of Mr Luan Goçi to the Jurisdiction of the United Kingdom. (11th December)   (6998)

3   Patents—Amendments to the Regulations under the Patent Cooperation Treaty adopted by the Assembly of the International Patent Cooperation Union. (11th December)   (6999)

4   Energy—Memorandum of Understanding between the United Kingdom and Ireland on the Single Electricity Market Arrangements. (8th December)   (7002)

Statutory Instruments (Standing Order 71)

The following negative instruments, having been laid before the House on 8 December were ordered to lie on the Table.

1   (1)   Education (School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions) (No. 2) (Amendment) Order 2006   (3171)

   (2)   Further Education (Providers of Education) (England) Regulations 2006   (3199)

laid under the Education Act 2002.

2   School Staffing (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2006, laid under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998.   (3197)

3   (1)   Armed Forces (Entry, Search and Seizure) Order 2006   (3243)

   (2)   Armed Forces (Entry, Search and Seizure) (Amendment) Order 2006   (3244)

laid under the Armed Forces Act 2001.

4   Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Cross-compliance) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2006, laid under the European Communities Act 1972.   (3254)

5   Finance Act 2006. Section 53 (2) (Films and Sound Recordings: Power to alter Dates) Order 2006, laid under the Finance Act 2006.   (3265)

6   Gambling Act 2005 (Commencement No. 6 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2006, laid under the Gambling Act 2005.   (3272)

7   Lloyd’s Sourcebook (Finance Act 1993 and Finance Act 1994) (Amendment) Order 2006, laid under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.   (3273)

8   Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006, laid under the Northern Ireland Act 2000.   (SR466)

Affirmative Instruments

The following instruments were laid before the House for approval by resolution:

1   Draft Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007, laid under the Northern Ireland Act 2000.

2   Draft Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act 1997 (Amnesty Period) Order 2007, laid under the Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act 1997.

Regulatory Reform

The following order was laid before the House under section 6(1) of the Regulatory Reform Act 2001 and referred to the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee:

Draft Regulatory Reform (Game) Order 2007, together with a statement by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Negative Instruments

The following instruments were laid before the House:

1   (1)   European Communities (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) (Second General System) (Amendment) Regulations 2006   (3214)

   (2)   Passenger and Goods Vehicles (Community Recording Equipment Regulation) Regulations 2006      (3276)

   (3)   Structural Funds (National Assembly for Wales) Regulations 2006   (3282)

laid under the European Communities Act 1972.

2   Education (Pupil Referral Units) (Application of Enactments) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2006, laid under the Education Act 1996.   (3226)

3   Town and Country Planning (Costs of Independent Examinations) (Standard Daily Amount) (England) Regulations 2006, laid under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.   (3227)

4   Films (Certification) Regulations 2006, laid under the Films Act 1985.   (3281)

5   (1)   Gambling (Operating Licence and Single-Machine Permit Fees) Regulations 2006   (3284)

   (2)   Gambling (Personal Licence Fees) Regulations 2006   (3285)

   (3)   Gambling Appeals Tribunal Fees Regulations 2006   (3287)

   (4)   Gambling Appeals Tribunal Rules 2006   (3293)

laid under the Gambling Act 2005.

6   Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules, laid under the Immigration Act 1971.   (—)

Paper not subject to parliamentary proceedings

The following paper was laid before the House:

Report and Accounts for 2005-06 of the Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland, together with the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, laid under the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002.

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Judicial Business

Monday 11 December

1   Condé Nast Publications Limited (Respondents) v. Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (Appellants) The appeal of the Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs was presented and it was ordered that in accordance with Standing Order VI the statement and appendix thereto be lodged on or before 22 January (lodged 8 December).

2   Abou-Rahmah and others (Petitioners) v. Abacha and others and others (Respondents) and others The petition of Adnan Shaaban Abou-Rahmah and Khalid Al-Fulaij and Sons General Trading & Contracting Company praying for leave to appeal was presented and referred to an Appeal Committee (lodged 8 December).

3   McGrath and another (as joint liquidators of HIH Casualty and General Insurance Limited, FAI General Insurance Company Limited, World Marine and General Insurances Pty Limited and FAI Insurances Limited, appointed by the Supreme Court of New South Wales) (Appellants) and others v. Riddell and others (Respondents) (as joint provisional liquidators of HIH Casualty and General Insurance Limited, FAI General Insurance Company Limited, World Marine and General Insurances Pty Limited and FAI Insurances Limited, appointed by the High Court of Justice of England and Wales):

4   McGrath and another (as joint liquidators of HIH Casualty and General Insurance Limited, FAI General Insurance Company Limited, World Marine and General Insurances Pty Limited and FAI Insurances Limited, appointed by the Supreme Court of New South Wales) and others (Appellants) v. Riddell and others (Respondents) (as joint provisional liquidators of HIH Casualty and General Insurance Limited, FAI General Insurance Company Limited, World Marine and General Insurances Pty Limited and FAI Insurances Limited, appointed by the High Court of Justice of England and Wales):

The petition of the appellants praying that the appeals be conjoined; that they be allowed to lodge one statement and one appendix and separate cases and be separately represented and that the respondents be allowed to lodge separate cases (the agents for the respondents consenting thereto) was presented; and it was ordered as prayed.

5   R (on the application of M) (FC) (Appellant) v. London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (Respondents) The petition of the appellant praying that the time for lodging the statement and appendix and setting down the cause for hearing might be extended to 22 January (the agents for the respondents consenting thereto) was presented; and it was ordered as prayed.

6   Phillips and others (suing as administrators of the estate of Christo Michailidis) (Appellants) v. Symes and others (Respondents) and others The petition of the appellants praying that the time for lodging the statement and appendix and setting down the cause for hearing might be extended to 23 January (the agents for the respondents consenting thereto) was presented; and it was ordered as prayed.

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Division on 11 December 2006

Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006

Division No. 1

Lord Rooker moved that the draft Order laid before the House on 9 October be approved. Then Lord Trimble moved as an amendment to leave out all the words after “that” and insert “this House, having regard to the declaration of the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland that the draft Order has not been subject to full consultation, and the repeated request of the Committee on the Programme for Government of the Northern Ireland Assembly that the legislation should be deferred, declines to approve the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. The House divided:

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   Not-contents   158

Contents

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